Improving Outcomes of Adolescents in Residential Substance use Treatment via a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention
openNIDA - National Institute on Drug Abuse
Project Description
When parents engage in their adolescents' substance use (SU) treatment, the adolescents experience better
outcomes and lower risk of relapse. Yet, parent engagement remains low across the SU treatment continuum,
particularly in service lines designed for adolescents with severe SU. To address this gap, we created Parent
SMART – a scalable technology-assisted intervention (parent networking forum + online program + telehealth
coaching sessions) – to engage parents in adolescent residential SU treatment. Through a successful NIDA-
funded R34 and the first segment of this R37, we established Parent SMART's feasibility, acceptability, and
preliminary effectiveness on parenting processes, adolescent SU, and adolescent school-related problems. We
also showed our ability to conduct a pragmatic effectiveness trial and efficiently integrate Parent SMART into
two of the largest adolescent residential facilities in the country: Rosecrance Griffin Williamson and Hazelden
Betty Ford. With the enthusiastic support of our partners, we now propose to adapt Parent SMART to reflect a
changing national treatment landscape. Since 2010, the numbers of residential programs for youth with SU
and other behavioral health problems, youth served, and available beds have declined by 61%, 78%, and 66%,
respectively, while the use of crisis hotlines, outpatient wraparound services, and intensive outpatient services
has surged. This shifting service mix highlights the need to proactively enhance parent engagement across the
SU continuum of care. In this next R37 segment, we will adapt and implement Parent SMART to ensure that it
fits the needs of parents, adolescents, and staff in those service lines experiencing a surge in utilization. Parent
SMART adaptation will be guided by ADAPT-ITT, an 8-step, systematic process to adapt evidence-based
interventions. In the first six steps of ADAPT-ITT, we will identify core intervention elements that transcend
settings and solicit constituent feedback to adapt modifiable, peripheral elements (Aim 1). In the final two steps
of ADAPT-ITT, we will employ a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial to simultaneously evaluate the
adapted Parent SMART intervention and its implementation (Aim 2). Parent SMART implementation will be
guided by the Science-to-Service Laboratory, a three-tiered (didactic workshop + performance feedback +
coaching) strategy that has demonstrated effectiveness across several of PI Becker's clinical trials. To
harmonize data collection across R37 segments, we will use the same measures of patient effectiveness
(parental monitoring, parent-adolescent communication, adolescent SU) and assessment calendar (baseline,
12-, and 24-weeks). Implementation outcomes will include reach, adoption, and fidelity, following guidelines of
the NIDA-funded Research Adoption Support Center, to align with other research networks. This work will
advance the field by: targeting a high-need population wherever they access services; removing barriers to
parent engagement; testing the adapted intervention and its implementation simultaneously to accelerate
impact; and informing development of a Parent SMART commercialization and sustainment plan.
D
UEI:
KG76WYENL5K1
Enter name of Organization:
D
RESEARCH & RELATED BUDGET - Budget Period 1 OMB Number: 4040-0001
Expiration Date: 11/30/2025
Northwestern University
Budget Type: Project
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Subaward/Consortium Budget Period: 1 Start Date:
06/01/2026
End Date:
05/31/2027
A. Senior/Key Person
Months Requested Fringe Funds
Prefix First Middle Last Suffix Base Salary ($) Cal. Acad. Sum. Salary ($) Benefits ($) Requested ($)
Sara Becker 221,900.00 2.40 44,380.00 12,471.00 56,851.00
Project Role:
PD/PI
D
D
Sarah Helseth 148,447.00 3.00 37,112.00 10,428.00 47,540.00
Project Role:
Co-Investigator
D
Zabin Patel 109,273.00 1.20 10,927.00 3,071.00 13,998.00
Project Role:
Co-Investigator
Additional Senior Key Persons:Add Attachment Delete Attachment View AttachmentTotal Funds requested for all Senior
Key Persons in the attached file
Total Senior/Key Person
118,389.00
B. Other Personnel
Number of
Personnel Project Role
Post Doctoral Associates
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Secretarial/Clerical
n
n
n
n
2
1
n
Research Assistants
Project Manager
3
Total Number Other Personnel
Months Requested Fringe Funds
Cal. Acad. Sum. Salary ($) Benefits ($) Requested ($)
D
D
D
D
24.00
D
6.00
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
99,000.00
39,784.00
27,820.00
11,179.00
126,820.00
50,963.00
Total Other Personnel
Total Salary, Wages and Fringe Benefits (A+B)
n
177,783.00
296,172.00
n
Up to $804K
health research